At last month's Shake Up Your Speaking retreat, I gave the attendees an exercise that involve picking a temporary tattoo out of a bag, applying it to their arm, and then applying the message on the tattoo to where they were in their speaking journey. MORE

Today, I was lamenting the lack of rain in Southern California, as we come to the end of our usual "rainy" month with below-seasonal totals. The ongoing severe drought is our #1 concern here, and every day that goes by without rain puts us more and more into a water deficit. MORE

If you don't watch figure skating (and even if you do), you may not understand the importance of the triple Axel in competition. First of all, it's the only forward-facing jump in the skaters' arsenal. All other jumps are executed while skating backward. MORE

Billboard Daily Blog Are you a fan of "Grace and Frankie," the hot Netflix series starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin? My husband and I arrived late to the party, but are now all caught up and attempting to savor season 3 instead of bingeing, like some of my friends have done. MORE

Are you thinking about joining the Presenting for Humans Success Circle , but not sure if it's right for you? Perhaps I can help you decide with these ten reasons I think the program is worth joining! MORE

Presentation Guru has published one of my articles this week on why it's harmful to compare ourselves to others, and how to stop. Will you ever be a great presenter if you don’t believe in your own ability and worth? MORE

I received the following email the other day, and I thought it would be worth sharing my response with you, because it goes to the heart of my philosophy of public speaking. "I I am writing an article on ways to sound smarter when speaking. MORE

For those of you who are of the opinion that talking on the phone while driving (sometimes with yelling or fighting kids in the back seat) makes more effective or productive use of your time, I doubt you'll change your habits after this one post. MORE

Maybe you've heard the song "Anything You Can Do" from the musical "Annie Get Your Gun." It's a classic duet with the characters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler attempting to prove their ability to outdo each other in a variety of tasks. MORE

It's coming, it's coming! I'm expecting my book, Presenting For Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection , to be available on Amazon by the end of March, and hopefully to have some hard copies in hand to sign for my VIP supporters! MORE

Our favorite, and most effective, awards show speeches tend to go one of two directions: Humor or passion. Both kinds of speeches have the same effect, to trigger an emotional response in the audience. The response to the humorous speech is laughter, if only a chuckle or an internal giggle. MORE

Are you thinking about joining the Presenting for Humans Success Circle , but not sure if it's right for you? Perhaps I can help you decide with these points about the benefits of the program to you! MORE

By now you've seen last week's performance by Kelly Clarkson on American Idol. It was an extremely moving performance, as we would all agree. What I want to talk about today, however, is her professionalism. This is what a pro looks like, whether performer or speaker (and usually, we're both). ( MORE

Anyone who watched the final season of Americal Idol will recall Dalton Rapattoni , the blue-eyed, blond-haired, baby-faced, guy-liner-wearing rocker who took third place in the show's final competition. MORE

“I was so happy with how Freaks and Geeks came out, that in my head I thought 'my career is basically over.' I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, and everything else is gravy. And so nothing else matters. I can experiment. I can do anything. MORE

Whenever a celebrity—whether actor, singer, athlete or other entertainer—takes the opportunity at an awards ceremony or other public event to speak out about a political issue, certain segments of the public immediately begin scolding and lashing out. It's inappropriate!" they say. MORE

It''s the most wonderful time of the year! And it''s also the time of the year, when I update my annual list of speaker gifts, to help you find the best gifts for the speaker in your life -- who might just be you! MORE

We're getting down to the wire. Shake Up Your Speaking: Get Real. Get Results" begins on March 21. My Bring-a-Friend rate expires on Friday. And the special hotel block rate (a really great deal!) is going away on February 27. MORE

Comedians are some of the best teachers of language and rhythm. I've written more than 20 posts about comedians and what speakers can learn from them, and I'm constantly inspired by how creative they are with their words and delivery. MORE

It's a new year, and with a new year comes lots of marketing hyperbole. Lots of "New year, new you!" and "Step into your greatness!" kinds of posts, articles and of course, paid programs. Every January, I feel the pressure. Do you feel the pressure? MORE

It's been a while since I posted about a TV commercial (ah, the beauty of the DVR), but here's one I came across recently that perfectly demonstrates the concepts of concise, compelling and clear storytelling. MORE

I was recently contacted by a woman who manages a small team of young, inexperienced salespeople. She was primarily concerned with their lack of self-awareness; their behaviors in front of clients and prospects were less-than-stellar. One person bites their nails in meetings. MORE

Have you ever been on a date? Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? You've probably had both experiences! Did you ask the other person out? Did they ask you out? Maybe you've just kind of eased into it by saying "We should do something sometime." (I MORE

My clients will frequently say to me, "I don't understand why I'm so nervous. There must be something wrong with me." Well, if it's wrong to be human, I guess we all have something wrong with us! What we forget is that, while we are indeed human, we are also animals. Human animals, but still animals. MORE

"Perfection is finally attained, not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aircraft designer and author of The Little Prince I'm fortunate that, in most of my speaking, I'm not required to be particularly concise. MORE

How many times have you waited to start something until the timing has been "right?" How did that go? Did you ever start? Did you wait so long that the opportunity was no longer available? Did you wait so long that you lost your chance? MORE

In the entrepreneurial world, and especially in the speaking and coaching worlds, we like to say "There is no competition." You see, we all have something unique to offer, we each have a unique voice and message, and no one else can do what we do in exactly the same way we do it. And this is true. MORE

"How can I get my audience to ask more questions?" "How How do I create notes that are useful?" "How How do I make a more effective call to action?" "How How do I adjust my content into longer/shorter presentations?" "How How do I put together a speaker proposal for a conference?" "How MORE

Just a quick video for you today to share these four principles (and give you a sneak peak at my upcoming retreat)! Authenticity Confidence Engaging the Audience Preparation Programs The Business of Speaking Training MORE

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook – try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” ~ Julia Child Okay, so maybe she wasn't referring to speakers, but who can argue that her advice surpasses cooking and crosses over into many other areas? MORE

Have you ever woken up to a voice that came from nowhere? It has happened to me many times. In fact, it has gotten to a point that when I do hear it, I know enough not to complain but rather listen when it wakes me up in the middle of the night. No, I’m not crazy. I’m a believer. That’s right. MORE

Ten years ago this week, I started blogging. My first post was published on October 9, 2006. Since that time, I've published 1,475 posts, I've saved 86 drafts that are still waiting to be finished and published, and I'm turning about 60 of them into a book to be published by the end of this year. MORE

It's a story about a fig. It's a very simple story. This fig is HUGE. I posted this picture on Facebook of the fig filling the palm of my hand. I thought the fig would speak for itself. But I was wrong. I started getting comments like, "Can't get them here!" MORE

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Speak Schmeak

My clients will frequently say to me, "I don't understand why I'm so nervous. There must be something wrong with me." Well, if it's wrong to be human, I guess we all have something wrong with us! What we forget is that, while we are indeed human, we are also animals. Human animals, but still animals.

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“I was so happy with how Freaks and Geeks came out, that in my head I thought 'my career is basically over.' I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, and everything else is gravy. And so nothing else matters. I can experiment. I can do anything.

If you don't watch figure skating (and even if you do), you may not understand the importance of the triple Axel in competition. First of all, it's the only forward-facing jump in the skaters' arsenal. All other jumps are executed while skating backward.

I was recently contacted by a woman who manages a small team of young, inexperienced salespeople. She was primarily concerned with their lack of self-awareness; their behaviors in front of clients and prospects were less-than-stellar. One person bites their nails in meetings.

"Perfection is finally attained, not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aircraft designer and author of The Little Prince I'm fortunate that, in most of my speaking, I'm not required to be particularly concise.

For those of you who are of the opinion that talking on the phone while driving (sometimes with yelling or fighting kids in the back seat) makes more effective or productive use of your time, I doubt you'll change your habits after this one post.

Maybe you've heard the song "Anything You Can Do" from the musical "Annie Get Your Gun." It's a classic duet with the characters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler attempting to prove their ability to outdo each other in a variety of tasks.

It's a new year, and with a new year comes lots of marketing hyperbole. Lots of "New year, new you!" and "Step into your greatness!" kinds of posts, articles and of course, paid programs. Every January, I feel the pressure. Do you feel the pressure?

Billboard Daily Blog Are you a fan of "Grace and Frankie," the hot Netflix series starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin? My husband and I arrived late to the party, but are now all caught up and attempting to savor season 3 instead of bingeing, like some of my friends have done.

Ten years ago this week, I started blogging. My first post was published on October 9, 2006. Since that time, I've published 1,475 posts, I've saved 86 drafts that are still waiting to be finished and published, and I'm turning about 60 of them into a book to be published by the end of this year.

Whenever a celebrity—whether actor, singer, athlete or other entertainer—takes the opportunity at an awards ceremony or other public event to speak out about a political issue, certain segments of the public immediately begin scolding and lashing out. It's inappropriate!" they say.

"Perfection is finally attained, not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aircraft designer and author of The Little Prince I'm fortunate that, in most of my speaking, I'm not required to be particularly concise.

For those of you who are of the opinion that talking on the phone while driving (sometimes with yelling or fighting kids in the back seat) makes more effective or productive use of your time, I doubt you'll change your habits after this one post.

Maybe you've heard the song "Anything You Can Do" from the musical "Annie Get Your Gun." It's a classic duet with the characters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler attempting to prove their ability to outdo each other in a variety of tasks.

In the entrepreneurial world, and especially in the speaking and coaching worlds, we like to say "There is no competition." You see, we all have something unique to offer, we each have a unique voice and message, and no one else can do what we do in exactly the same way we do it. And this is true.

It's coming, it's coming! I'm expecting my book, Presenting For Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection , to be available on Amazon by the end of March, and hopefully to have some hard copies in hand to sign for my VIP supporters!

At last month's Shake Up Your Speaking retreat, I gave the attendees an exercise that involve picking a temporary tattoo out of a bag, applying it to their arm, and then applying the message on the tattoo to where they were in their speaking journey.

Presentation Guru has published one of my articles this week on why it's harmful to compare ourselves to others, and how to stop. Will you ever be a great presenter if you don’t believe in your own ability and worth?

Today, I was lamenting the lack of rain in Southern California, as we come to the end of our usual "rainy" month with below-seasonal totals. The ongoing severe drought is our #1 concern here, and every day that goes by without rain puts us more and more into a water deficit.

I received the following email the other day, and I thought it would be worth sharing my response with you, because it goes to the heart of my philosophy of public speaking. "I I am writing an article on ways to sound smarter when speaking.

It's a story about a fig. It's a very simple story. This fig is HUGE. I posted this picture on Facebook of the fig filling the palm of my hand. I thought the fig would speak for itself. But I was wrong. I started getting comments like, "Can't get them here!"

"How can I get my audience to ask more questions?" "How How do I create notes that are useful?" "How How do I make a more effective call to action?" "How How do I adjust my content into longer/shorter presentations?" "How How do I put together a speaker proposal for a conference?" "How

Have you ever woken up to a voice that came from nowhere? It has happened to me many times. In fact, it has gotten to a point that when I do hear it, I know enough not to complain but rather listen when it wakes me up in the middle of the night. No, I’m not crazy. I’m a believer. That’s right.

Just a quick video for you today to share these four principles (and give you a sneak peak at my upcoming retreat)! Authenticity Confidence Engaging the Audience Preparation Programs The Business of Speaking Training

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook – try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” ~ Julia Child Okay, so maybe she wasn't referring to speakers, but who can argue that her advice surpasses cooking and crosses over into many other areas?

By now you've seen last week's performance by Kelly Clarkson on American Idol. It was an extremely moving performance, as we would all agree. What I want to talk about today, however, is her professionalism. This is what a pro looks like, whether performer or speaker (and usually, we're both). (

Comedians are some of the best teachers of language and rhythm. I've written more than 20 posts about comedians and what speakers can learn from them, and I'm constantly inspired by how creative they are with their words and delivery.

Anyone who watched the final season of Americal Idol will recall Dalton Rapattoni , the blue-eyed, blond-haired, baby-faced, guy-liner-wearing rocker who took third place in the show's final competition.

How many times have you waited to start something until the timing has been "right?" How did that go? Did you ever start? Did you wait so long that the opportunity was no longer available? Did you wait so long that you lost your chance?

Have you ever been on a date? Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? You've probably had both experiences! Did you ask the other person out? Did they ask you out? Maybe you've just kind of eased into it by saying "We should do something sometime." (I

We're getting down to the wire. Shake Up Your Speaking: Get Real. Get Results" begins on March 21. My Bring-a-Friend rate expires on Friday. And the special hotel block rate (a really great deal!) is going away on February 27.

Our favorite, and most effective, awards show speeches tend to go one of two directions: Humor or passion. Both kinds of speeches have the same effect, to trigger an emotional response in the audience. The response to the humorous speech is laughter, if only a chuckle or an internal giggle.

It''s the most wonderful time of the year! And it''s also the time of the year, when I update my annual list of speaker gifts, to help you find the best gifts for the speaker in your life -- who might just be you!

It's been a while since I posted about a TV commercial (ah, the beauty of the DVR), but here's one I came across recently that perfectly demonstrates the concepts of concise, compelling and clear storytelling.

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For Canadian Residents: By providing your consent below, you are expressly agreeing that we may email you under Canada's Anti-Spam Law. For more information on this law, you may visit the Government of Canada's site.

For European Union Residents: By providing your consent below, you are expressly agreeing that we may email you under European Union General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). For more information on this regulation, you may visit the European Union's site. Additional details.

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For Canadian Residents: By providing your consent below, you are expressly agreeing that we may email you under Canada's Anti-Spam Law. For more information on this law, you may visit the Government of Canada's site.

For European Union Residents: By providing your consent below, you are expressly agreeing that we may email you under European Union General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). For more information on this regulation, you may visit the European Union's site. Additional details.